Madrid
Population: 3’100’000
Date of visit: March 2017
Attractions & sights: 3/5
Nightlife: 4/5
Safety: 4/5
Infrastructure: 4/5
Low budget factor: €€€/5
Total: 👍👍👍/5
The city in a nutshell:
Hala Madrid! Not the prettiest Spanish city in my opinion, but a great destination for dining, nightlife and having fun. By the way, Madrid is the highest European capital located 667 meters above sea level.
Where to stay:
Near Plaza Major or Puerta del Sol.
The Good:
Tapas and nightlife! The Spanish metropolis is a highlight when it comes to food and going out, as the city has one of the highest concentrations of bars and restaurants in the world. You can find Tapas almost everywhere and there is a good amount of fantastic restaurants in the city.
Madrid is also a good city for shopping. Gran Via is a huge street full of shops and warehouses, but you can find also a lot of stores in other parts of the city.
Although this is one of the largest cities in Europe, all the attractions and sights are within walking distance. A half day tour is actually enough to see almost all of the attractions. My highlight was the panoramic view from the rooftop bar of Circulo de Bellas Artes. The entrance was a bit hard to find though.
Don’t come here for a romantic weekend with Bae (there are many better options in Europe for that), but for an action-packed weekend with your friends. Grab a few bites at Mercado de San Miguel during day, have a few drinks in a bar in the evening and get lost in Madrid’s vibrant nightlife later.
The Bad & The Ugly:
There are several nightlife areas and Huertas is by far the worst and the one to avoid. It’s full of touts trying to get you into their overpriced bars and nightclubs. The whole quarter seems to be a huge tourist trap.
Find other City Ratings here.
